ANIL
KUMAR'S SATSANG:
Professor Anil Kumar has presented
this talk as an extra satsang. He has selected important messages Baba has
imparted to the students gathered around Him during the afternoon sessions on
the verandah at Prashanti Nilayam. These talks will continue.
Part Three
NOVEMBER 5th, 2002
Traditions and Culture
in His Childhood Days
It was on the 5th
November that in the afternoon Bhagavan was talking about His childhood days. I
have not told anybody yet because this conversation happened just yesterday
afternoon. You are the first people to hear it. He was speaking of His childhood
days, and the traditions and culture of the villages in this part of the State
(Andhra Pradesh).
The culture in the villages signifies and
testifies to the unity among the folks. They all lived in the spirit of unity,
and they cooperated with each other, particularly during this season following
Deepavali. This November is called Karthika. During this month, people would
take cold-water baths in the early hours of the morning, around 5 o’clock. Also
during this time, on the weekends, people would go on retreats to sadhana
camps, spiritual camps. There they would enjoy some fun and frolic. All the
villagers would go to distant places where they would sit under trees. They
would dine and exchange all the food they brought from their homes. They would
sing, and dance, and play and enjoy the festivities. Such festivals brought
people together, creating an understanding and opportunity to exchange views.
These gatherings promoted fraternity and unity among the inhabitants of the
villages.
"Swami, this cold season?"
"Yes, why not? When you just jump into the
Chitravathi River, you don’t feel the cold anymore. As long as you stand on the
sand, you start shivering. Once you jump into the river -- no more cold."
"Oh, I see, Swami, nice to hear. I won’t
venture to do it anyway for myself."
And then Bhagavan said, "Weekends we would go
to a place and we would sit under the trees. You must have heard of pearl
millet? It is millet grain that looks like pearls. There’s a meal made out of
pearl millet and chilies. It is very tasty, I like it even to this day - and
also ragi malt, a little bit of ragi malt. It’s very delicious, I like it very
much." That’s what Bhagavan said.
People would also dance; they would sing; and
they liked to swing. One of the dances, called Kolakam, uses wooden
sticks that are hit together…tak-tak (Anil Kumar sings Govinda,
Govinda, Gayiye, as he demonstrates with his hands a criss-cross movement of the
sticks…Bhajo Radhey Gopala, Krishna Gayiye.) They would hold two sticks and
do that…tak-tak. In the Kolakam dance, it seems they would jump
between the moving sticks. Bhagavan said His grandfather Kondama Raju used to do
this.
"Oh Swami, very interesting. And, what did You
do? Did You also do that Kolakam? Did You also jump along with them?"
"Then what were You doing, Swami?"
"I collected all the urchins, the young boys of
the village, and started singing bhajans. ‘Panduranga Bhajana Mandali’
- Panduranga Bhajana Mandali - the first congregation for music." That’s
what Bhagavan. So, Bhagavan started devotional songs during that time.
For Me, All Are One
Then Bhagavan also recalled a visit to the
house of an untouchable. It seems there were untouchables in those days, and
they lived in the outskirts of the village. Today it’s not like that -- today
the privileged class lives in the outskirts.
Once it seems that Swami promised He would visit one of the untouchables, a gentleman by the name of Madhiga Narayana.
He said, "I will come to your house."
Swami went, and He was followed by a Brahmin
woman named Karanam Subbamma. In those days, Brahmins did not visit
untouchables, even in their dreams. If they saw one face-to-face, they would
have to bathe immediately. That was the situation in those days; but this lady
followed Bhagavan anyway.
And Swami said to her, "Don’t do that. All the
villagers will feel so badly. For Me, all are one -- I will go to anybody. But
it’s not proper for you."
She said, "Swami, I don’t care for the society.
I am not bothered by what others think of me. I want You. Wherever You go, I
will follow You."
That’s what she said and that’s what Bhagavan
said. He also recalled that the villagers never locked their houses. No -- no
locks, no lock and key system, just the doors open, that’s all -- no thefts, no
keys in those days.
And, all the people would go to the outskirts
of the village to celebrate all the festivals during this season. They would sit
under the trees and have fun there and nothing would happen to the village
during that time. That was the level of honesty and integrity in villages in
those days, Bhagavan told us.
And then, after playing the whole day, what did
they do? They would just lie down on the sand. They would enjoy a beautiful
sleep -- without a foam bed or cushions or anything. They would just lie down on
the sand and sleep well. That’s what Bhagavan said about those days.
Experts in swimming
And then, He recalled another story. It seems
His mother, Easwaramma, and His two sisters Venkamma and Parvatamma, were all
three experts in swimming. They taught swimming to the children of the village
in those days. It seems they would carry the small, small children and help them
to swim - initially. And then later, they would just leave them alone, so they
learned the art of swimming by themselves. That's what Bhagavan said yesterday.
NOVEMBER 1st and OCTOBER 28th, 2002
A Devotee from Greece
Now I come to the 1st of November
and also on the 28th of October. These two days are important in the
sense that Swami spoke to a gentleman from Greece. The gentleman’s name is
George. Swami stood there and just called, "Hey, Greece, come here."
The gentleman came crawling forward. I wondered
if something was wrong with his feet, or something like that?
"Swami, he’s crawling on his knees."
"Out of devotion. He's not like you - to walk
like rowdies. No, no. You see, he feels devotion."
The fellow came forward and Swami asked, "Boy,
what’s your name?"
"Oh, George, hmmm. What do you do?"
"Swami, I run a bookstore."
"What is the name of the bookstore?"
"’Ananda’, Swami, ‘Ananda’."
"Oh! Who else assists you?"
"What do you sing?"
"When do you sing?"
"Throughout the day."
"Why Do You Bluff Like That?"
Also on the same day, the 28th of
October, all the boys were expected to report to the college. Because the
college started on the 29th, they needed to report by the 28th.
NOVEMBER 4th, 2002
My Words and My Actions Are Not Understood By Many People
And now I move on to what Bhagavan said on the
4th of November. What did He say?
He said this as if He were helpless: "My
actions and My words are not understood by many people. You don’t understand My
actions. You don’t know the meaning of what I say. Some people are even
mistaken. They feel so badly because I use some words that make them feel hurt.
They don’t understand. That makes Me very much worried. I don’t tell you the
meaning of My actions; I never explain the inner significance of My actions. I
feel so badly because you don’t understand the spirit behind it. Whatever I say,
whatever I do is in your best interest. I’m not selfish."
What made Swami make that statement when I was
there? (Laughter) Then I started introspecting. On the 4th,
Swami was very harsh to me. Wow! He blasted me like anything. Ta-ta-ta, abba
-- I felt so badly, very much hurt.
Not some people, He meant me, nobody else.
‘While Swami can directly tell me, why this indirect way?’ So, that’s what I
felt.
NOVEMBER 3rd, 2002
Bhagavan, the Doctor of Doctors
And this happened on the 3rd of
November – what did He say?
Bhagavan just came out and stood there in front
of us and said, "Look here, Anil Kumar. Do you know what happened yesterday in
our hospital?"
"Swami, what happened?"
"An eleven-year-old boy was operated on for his
heart problem. The operation was successful, but later some complications
started. His abdomen was swollen, and he could not eat by himself. He was
suffering terrific pain in the abdomen, and complications. The doctors were very
much worried.
They came to Swami and said, "The heart
operation was successful, but later there have been complications. What shall we
do?"
Bhagavan materialized vibhutthi for that
boy, and the doctor applied the vibhutthi. “Everything became normal and
that night the boy ate a normal dinner." That’s what Swami said.
In this context, I want to bring to your
attention a very important point. That Dr. Alreza, the Superintendent of
the General Hospital, meets with Swami every day.
Dr. Alreza says, "Swami, so-and-so is to be
operated on. So-and-so is to be treated. So-and-so is to be admitted. We want
prasadam."
And Swami gives prasadam to everybody.
And sometimes He says, "Don’t operate; give
this medicine.” Or, “Treat this. It is not influenza; it is pneumonia."
I am the witness to such things. Bhagavan
Baba, the Doctor of doctors, not only diagnoses the diseases, but He gives the
prescriptions too. That’s what happened on the 3rd of November.
OCTOBER 29th, 2002
Veda Chanting
And then, I should also let you know what
Bhagavan said on the 29th of October. All the boys were sitting in
the front rows. It was a very pleasant evening. The weather was fine, very cool.
Bhagavan said, "The weather and the climate are
like Kodaikanal. You'll enjoy the whole of Puttaparthi and Prashanthi Nilayam as
if it is air-conditioned." (Laughter)
And then some boys said, "Swami, we want to
recite Vedam."
Baba said, "Ah, wait."
Then I said, "Swami, Veda chanting is
auspicious. If they chant Veda it will be auspicious for everybody. All devotees
will be very happy to hear the Veda chanting. Please permit it."
"Mmm, come on then. This man is
recommending it. (Laughter) All right, you can do it."
And they started Veda chanting - reciting Veda.
Then, at the end of the line of boys, I saw young children - little kids - they
too started chanting Veda. I saw their lip movement.
Then I said, "Swami, I think the children are
also joining the Veda chanting."
"What? The children know it much better than
the big boys!"
"Come, sit. Come on, chant Veda."
Then I said, "Swami, Your Institutions are the
very symbols of Vedic culture, ancient traditions -- the very metaphor of Veda.
So I’m not surprised."
On the same day of October 29th Baba
said, "In Veda chanting, there are two portions. One part is Namakam.
The second part is Chamakam."
Namakam
and Chamakam were the two parts in Veda chanting on that day.
Swami started explaining, "Namakam, the
first part means, 'I don’t want anything.' Nama -- Na means ‘no’, while
ma means ‘want’. 'I don’t want anything.' ‘I don’t want anything’ is the
first half. While the second half, Chamakam means 'I want.' 'I want'
indicates being full of desires. What do they desire? ‘Oh God, grant us pure
air; grant us good drinking water; bless us with good food.’ That is Chamakam
- prayers of request."
Well, you must have understood by now that I am
an extrovert. I cannot keep anything to myself. I immediately ask, take Divine
risks, and face spiritual dangers and threats. (Laughter) But, I can’t
help it. I am born with this openness. What to do?
Further Bhagavan also said, "Look here, those
ancient sages did penance for a long time and they said, 'Vedaha Vedam
Purusham Mahantam Aditya Vurnam Thamasah Parasthath.' This is a
quotation from Veda. The sages said, 'Vedaha Vedam Purusham Mahantam.'
'We have seen God.' Saints said, 'We have seen God.' ‘Purusham Mahantam.’
‘Purusha is God. We have seen this Purusha.’ ‘Vedah Vedam,
Purusham Mahantam.’ ‘We have seen God.’ Where? ‘Thamasah Parastat.’
‘Beyond darkness.’ ‘Beyond darkness, we have seen God.' "
TREAT HER IMMEDIATELY
Now I pass on to the 22nd of October. That evening Swami asked one
boy to speak. That boy did his MSc. in Bio-Science and he also completed his
MBA. He is an outstanding student. Now he is serving as Technical Officer in the
Super-Specialty Hospital. Swami asked him to speak. He talked about two miracles
that were very interesting.
Then the Technical Officer mentioned another
miracle. You know, one fellow came all the way from the border near Pakistan. He
had some heart problem. There on the Pakistan border, somebody told him to go to
Puttaparthi.
That man came here, had an operation, and
returned. As a token of love, he wrote a letter to Swami. He wrote, “How do I
pay the debt of gratitude? How do I express thanks to You, Swami, because You
saved my life?”
EGO LEADS TO A SENSE OF FEAR
Now, we move on to the 21st of
October. Bhagavan asked two boys to speak on that day. One of them, Sriram
Parasuram -- who has a MSc in chemistry and is a gold medalist, a smart guy
indeed -- was sent to Loma Linda University in California, USA for studies in
Hospital Management.
He shared the following: "Coal -- a piece of
coal is transformed into a diamond by the touch of Bhagavan. We students are
like coal pieces. Charcoal is useless stuff; but in the hands of Bhagavan, we
are transformed into priceless, most precious diamonds. Thanks to Swami."
Then he made mention of another point, "Look
here, you must have noticed that all the school children speak fearlessly. On
Sundays, when Swami asks them to speak, they all make a beeline one after
another. They have no fear. They are ready to speak -- tak-tak-tak!
(quickly, one after another). If Swami asks any of the big boys to speak, they
have some reservations. The older boys are not ready to speak. But, the younger
children are ever-ready."
He continued on this theme: "Primary school
children are ready to get up any time. They are ready to speak any time. Why?
Children are innocent. Innocence is Divine. Innocence is Godly. Innocence is
child behavior. Because of their innocence, they have total Love for Bhagavan.
And, due to Love, they are 100% successful in their performance -- a very good
development. First there is innocence; then innocence takes one to Love; then
Love leads to Victory. That’s the case with children.”
Sriram Parasuram continued, "But with the
grown-up boys of the college, what happens? Ego. Ego – ‘Will I speak well or
not?’ ‘How much applause will I get?’ ‘How many people are going to congratulate
me?’ ‘Will Swami be happy or not?’ ‘Will people think of me as a good speaker?’
So this is ego. With age we develop ego, and this ego leads to a sense of fear.
Fear is due to ego, and this fear is responsible for failure. Fear is the cause
for failure. That is the case with the grown-up boys."
"THERE IS ALREADY A MAN SEATED THERE"
Next, let's cover two points mentioned by
another speaker who is named Arun Kumar. Arun Kumar studied engineering from a
prestigious Institute of Technology. Later, he completed his MBA. Now, he is
working at Sai Radio for Global Harmony.
That boy said, "It seems a train was moving
fast and one drunkard, who was really drunk, got into a compartment. He was
standing there and almost lost his awareness and started misbehaving. He started
speaking in abusive and vulgar language. One girl was seated nearby. She was
feeling so sad.
'Swami, save me!' she prayed, 'This drunkard
may sit here because there is an empty seat next to me. If this drunkard sits
here by my side, then how will I bear his company -- his awful smell and idiotic
behavior, what do I do?'
Then, another fellow passenger in the train
said to the drunkard, 'Hey, sit down over there, where there is space -- sit
down.’
'Where?’
'By the side of this girl,'
This was by the side of the girl who was
already praying, ‘Don’t let that fellow sit here!' (Laughter))
That drunkard came close to the girl, and when
he was just about to sit, he shouted, 'Why did you ask me to sit here? There is
already a man seated here. Don’t you see him? (Laughter) A short man,
with a red robe and long hair is already seated there. Don’t you see?'
'Nobody is seated there.'
'No, you are a blind fellow. The seat is
already taken,'
That’s how Swami rescued and saved that girl
from embarrassment."
And then Arun Kumar made mention of another
thing.
"When people feel happy with the world, the
fact is that the happiness is not out there in the world. The happiness is
within, not outside. Happiness is not outside -- happiness is within. Why? You
are the embodiment of Bliss. You are the embodiment of Truth. You are the
embodiment of Peace. You are Bliss. To think that Bliss is outside is a mistaken
idea. Bliss is within you, you are Bliss."
In this context he gave one example.
"It seems a street dog got hold of a bone. This
dog went on chewing on that bone. In the process, his gums started bleeding and
some of the blood spread on the surface of the bone. The dog started licking the
blood, enjoying it. The dog thought the blood, which it relished, came from
outside. But actually, the blood didn't come from anywhere. It was his own
blood. Similarly, we are happy with some people, we are happy with some objects,
but not because of happiness outside. It is only our own reaction, reflection
and resound."
That’s what Arun Kumar mentioned on that day,
which I liked very much and wanted to share with you.
OCTOBER 19th, 2002
Love Is God, God Is Love, Live In Love
Now I come to the 19th of October.
Bhagavan was talking to the professors on the veranda. As you know, usually the
boys will perform a drama on the 22nd of November, which is the
Convocation Day for Sathya Sai University. Every year they stage a drama.
On October 19th, in a most casual
manner Baba asked, "Mmm, what drama are you getting ready?"
One boy said, "Swami, different religions."
"Mmm, I see."
He asked another boy, "What drama are you
reading?"
"Swami, there’s a lot of violence in the world,
and we show what Love is - what Unity is."
Swami said, "Look here, I don’t want you to
criticize any religion. I don’t want you to criticize any other country. I don’t
want you to expose the differences. I don’t want you to project anything that is
negative. Never project negative things to the public. No, focus on the positive
things in you. I always say:
There
is only one caste, the caste of humanity.
There is only one religion, the religion of Love.
I want you to develop themes along these lines
-- not religions, not clashes, not differences of opinion, not violence. I don’t
want it."
OCTOBER 18th, 2002
Greatness Lies In Making Others Happy
Then 18th of October, what did
Bhagavan say?
Well, by a slip of the tongue, I said, "Swami,
there is some violence somewhere. The newspaper reported this morning that many
were killed there."
"Ah, oh I see. You are speaking
about violence outside?"
Then Bhagavan said, "There is
nothing great in killing people. Cobras can kill people. Lions can kill people.
Tigers can kill people. Scorpions can kill people. So, there is nothing great in
killing people. Greatness lies in helping people. Greatness lies in serving
people. Greatness lies in making others happy. Nothing great in killing others."
Distance Does Not Matter
I asked him, "What is this?"
"Don’t you know this?" he said.
"Well, I am sorry, I’ll find out and then meet
you later. (Laughter) So, I shouldn’t doubt your scholarship."
The Prestige of the Family
This story is an illustration from the
Mahabharata where the birth of Karna was not announced to the world because
Karna's mother, the virgin Kunti, gave birth to him before she was married. So,
it would have been a matter of insult -- it would have reduced the prestige of
the family -- so she didn’t tell anybody about the birth of this boy, gifted to
her by the Sun god himself. Somehow she left that baby.
That baby was taken care of and brought up by a
low caste man. Karna was brought up to be the chieftain of the Kauruvas.
Towards the end of the war, the Pandavas were
ready to kill anyone. Karna was a major general of the opposite camp. Naturally,
a mother is a mother, so Kunti went to her son Karna.
Then Karna said, "Mother, what a thing you have
done! Why did you not tell them that I am their brother? Why did you not tell me
earlier that I am your son? What a tragedy is going to take place now."
Karna also cried, "Look here, Mother. I am the
chief of the Kauravas, and I should be loyal to my king. Just because in this
last moment you tell me that I'm your son, I am not going to leave my duty. I
should be loyal to the king. So, I won’t touch four of your sons. I will attack
only one -- Arjuna. He is my enemy. I will only kill him, that’s all. Your other
four sons, I won’t touch them. Don’t be worried."
That’s what he said. Bhagavan was explaining
this.
Then immediately I said, "Swami, wasn’t it
wrong on Kunti’s part not to tell the truth -- that Karna was her son, her
eldest son? Was it proper of her to hide it like that?"
Bhagavan is really supreme. He will never
humiliate any character. He will make every character sublime.
He said, "No, no, you are mistaken. Kunti was
not wrong. She did not reveal that Karna was her son because of the prestige of
the family. He was born to her when she was not married. If that truth had been
revealed to everybody, the royal family would have been viewed as very cheap by
the kingdom. So, for the prestige of the family, she did not reveal the truth."
That’s how He built up the nobility of her
character.
And then He said, "In those days, the
punishment was not capital punishment. One was not beheaded or killed. It was
enough if his head was completely shaven and then he was driven out of the
country. That was the punishment. One didn’t have to be killed with a sword, no.
They let him go. They let him leave the country with a shaven head. Exile --
that was the punishment in those days." That’s what Bhagavan said.
Later He made reference to two people from the
Mahabharata - one was Bheeshmacharya, the other was Dronacharya. Acharya
means ‘professor’. According to Bhagavan, Bheeshmacharya was a real professor or
acharya because he practiced what he preached, whereas the other man,
Dronacharya, was only a professor by title because he did not practice what he
preached. This was a first time revelation from Bhagavan.
The Parents of Rama and Sita
Then, on that same day, the 18th of
October, He made a reference to the Ramayana. He spoke about
Parasurama. Parasurama was trying to kill all the Kshatriyas (warrior caste). He
had taken a vow to kill all the Kshatriyas. He killed all except for two,
Dasaratha and Janaka. Dasaratha was the father of Rama and Janaka was the father
of Sita. These two were saved.
"How, Swami? When everybody else was killed,
how were those two saved?"
Swami gave the answer, "A newly-married man
should not be killed. Dasaratha had three wives, and he married one after the
other. Whenever Parasurama got ready to kill him, Dasaratha would have another
marriage. In this way, his life was saved." (Laughter)
"And then how was Janaka, the other king, the
father of Sita -- how was his life also saved? How?"
Baba replied, "Someone who is performing a
yagna should not be killed. Janaka was always performing yagnas, so
he was spared. Dasaratha and Janaka were spared like that, and they happened to
be the parents of Rama and Sita. That is all the Divine drama."
OCTOBER 16th, 2002
Divert and Direct Your Mind Towards God
I should also let you know what happened on the
16th of October, what Swami said. A few questions were asked.
One question was, "Swami, for every action,
there is a reaction. For every action, there is a result. Karma is
action. Karmaphala is the result of the action. So, whatever I do, I
cannot escape from the consequences of my action. If my actions are good, I will
have good results. If my actions are bad, there will be bad results. I have to
face them. I cannot run away from the consequences. This is what You tell us.
But I have one doubt, Swami."
"What is it?"
"In Adwaitha, in non-dualistic philosophy,
there is neither action nor the doer. There is nothing like that. There is no
action. There is no doer because all the life is a dream, as per non-dualistic
philosophy. Swami, how do You explain this ‘action-reaction’ on one hand, and
‘no action whatsoever’ on the other hand. How do You correlate this
non-dualistic philosophy, Shankara Adwaitha, and this action-reaction?"
Then Bhagavan immediately said, "Go to the root
cause of action. What is the cause of your action? Thought. From where has this
thought arisen? From the mind. So, out of the mind, thought has arisen. Thought
has led to action; action has given you the consequence, the reward or result.
Now, as long as you operate at the level of the mind, as long as you work at the
mind level, you cannot be free from karmaphala or the consequences of
your actions. You cannot escape from the reaction because you are operating at
the level of the mind. But, Shankara Adwaitha says that you should
transcend the mind. You should go beyond the mind."
"Oh Swami, to transcend the mind or go beyond
the mind, is it possible? What’s it all about? Please let me know."
Baba said, "To transcend the mind and go beyond
the mind, know the mind and what it is."
"Oh! I only say, 'Never mind,' but I don’t know
what the mind is! Swami, what is the mind?"
"Ah. Look here. Mind is nothing but a bundle of
thoughts. Like threads interwoven make a piece of cloth, a bundle of thoughts
interwoven constitute the mind."
"So, Swami, how do I go beyond the mind?"
"Withdraw all the thoughts, then you will be
thoughtless. When you are thoughtless, there is no mind. When there are no
threads, then there is no cloth. Similarly, when there are no thoughts, there is
no mind."
"Oh ho, Swami, how to be thoughtless? (Laughter)
How to be thoughtless?"
"Yes, it is possible."
"Why? How?"
"By diverting the mind towards God. Divert and
direct your mind towards God. Your mind is towards the world, now. Divert it.
Direct it. Re-direct it towards God. Once the mind is directed towards God,
thoughts disappear. The mind is full of Divinity. The mind is full of God. No
more thoughts, no more mind, no more action, no more reaction. That is the way,"
He said.
So nice to hear, but I have yet to practice. (Laughter)
Positive Thinking
Then, "Swami, how do I develop positive
thinking?"
"It is very easy," He said.
"Very easy? When a fellow starts blaming me,
how can I take it positively? When a fellow is harming me, how can I have
positive thinking towards him? When a fellow is doing so much harm, how can I
have positive thinking? Is it possible?"
"Very easy."
"Swami, how? Please let me know."
"When you realize that all that is said to you
and all that is done against you is for your own good, that is positive
thinking. Positive thinking means taking everything that happens to you as for
your own good. No matter what others say about you, no matter what others may do
towards you, no matter how you are harmed, just take it as for your own good.
That is positive thinking."
"I see – anything more Swami, on how to develop
positive thinking? How to accept that everything is for my good? For example, if
I beat someone, how can they take that to be for their own good? How?"
Then He said, "It is possible by having strong
faith in God. Strong faith in God helps you to develop positive thinking."
Cosmic Mind
Then someone asked, "Swami, what is the
difference between the individual mind and the Cosmic Mind?"
Swami said, "The Cosmic Mind is Universal. The
Cosmic Mind is Divinity. The individual mind is an entity. It has an identity.
Entity and identity have a name and a form, whereas the Cosmic Mind or Universal
Mind is nameless and formless. Nameless, formless -- Universal Mind is Cosmic
Mind. The one with a name and a form -- an entity, an identity -- is the
individual mind."
"Oh Swami, is there any relationship between
the two?"
"Yes, both are the same."
"Both are the same? One has a form and the
other has no form? One has a name and the other has no name? How can they be
one?"
"It is very simple."
"How Bhagavan? How is it so simple?"
"Yes, it is simple."
"Why and how?"
"When the individual forgets his identity, when
he is not mindful of the name and form, when he transcends and goes beyond the
name and the form, when he is not attached to name and form any longer, then he
becomes the Cosmic Mind. So long as you are attached to your name and form, you
are separate from the Cosmic Mind. Once the name and form are given up, then the
individual mind and the Cosmic Mind are one and the same."
"Still, I don’t understand, Swami."
Swami said, "Very simple. Imagine a balloon.
There is air inside the balloon and there is also air all around it. The air all
around is the Cosmic Mind. The air inside the balloon is the individual mind.
When the balloon bursts, the air in the balloon merges into the air around it.
There’s no difference. So, the difference is due to the size, name, and form of
the balloon. There is no difference between the air in the balloon and the air
around the balloon. So, the individual mind and Cosmic Mind -- they are
different because of the name and the form."
That’s what Bhagavan said.
"Swami, permit us to put another question."
"What is it?"
"Swami, what is the purpose of life?" Simple
question! (Laughter) "What is the purpose of life?"
Swami said, "The purpose of life is to find
unity with God, to realize Divinity within; to find unity with God means to know
that you are God. That’s all. That is the purpose of life. So long as you feel
that you are different from God, there is a long way to go. You will have to
travel along the spiritual path until that identity, that oneness, that unity is
realized and experienced."
That’s what Bhagavan said on that day, the 16th
of October.
OCTOBER 9th, 2002
Mother Will Not Forget
Next, I would like to talk to you about what
happened on the 9th of October. Yes, what did He say? It was the day
when Swami ordered the distribution of ice cream to all students. Wow - ice
cream, very nice you know. We all like it. Some students distributed ice cream
cups to everybody.
Swami suddenly came and called these students,
"Hey boys, have you distributed ice cream to everybody?"
"Yes, Swami."
"Everyone got it?"
"Yes."
"You are useless fellows. Those two boys did
not get any. Go and give them some."
Then, He turned to everybody and said, "You
call yourselves brothers. Look here, brothers will forget, but a mother will not
forget. (Laughter) Brothers may forget, but a mother will not forget."
This is an indication that Bhagavan is a Mother
to us all.
I Suffer On Your Behalf
Here is another ‘Pearl of Wisdom’ that was
shared on the 9th of October. What was it? Bhagavan takes upon
Himself the sicknesses of others. What happens when He does that? Will He
suffer? Why should He accept sickness?
Swami said this: "I accept, I receive, I suffer
on your behalf in response to your prayers because, if left to you, the pain
would be unbearable. The pain would be unbearable, excruciating, and terrible,
and you could not bear it. As you pray, I take it upon Myself."
"Swami, do You also suffer as I suffer? Will
You have pain, as I have?"
"Yes, but in My case the duration is for a
short time, whereas you have to suffer for a long time. When I take it upon
Myself, the period of suffering is cut short -- it’s a very brief time. I do it
so that you are free from that sickness, and you are free from that pain. That’s
why I accept others’ pain."
That’s what Bhagavan said.
Once, Swami granted an interview to a schoolboy
who was asthmatic. Many asthmatic people find it very difficult to breathe
during the rainy season.
The young, innocent boy said, "Oh Swami, I
suffer so much. I cannot breathe. It is unbearable, Swami."
"Oh I see. Don’t worry, My child. Don’t worry."
Immediately Swami was gasping because He had
taken that asthma problem upon Himself. It lasted for a couple of minutes, and
then subsided.
When Swami was normal again He said, "You won’t
have an asthma attack again. Don’t worry."
This is an example of how Baba takes upon
Himself the sufferings of people and gives them total relief.
Before I conclude, here is another story.
Yesterday Bhagavan came out and said, "Have you
seen those two doctors?"
"Swami I did not see them because the doctors
went into the interview room and came out, and I sit over on the steps, as You
know. So how can I see them? Impossible! Swami, I did not see them."
Baba said, "Those doctors are from Germany.
Both husband and wife are heart specialists. They are top doctors who have
performed several heart transplants. They are heart transplant experts, and they
have been invited by the Government of Australia to go there and serve.”
Before leaving for Australia, they wanted to
have the Darshan of Baba and visit His Hospital. They knew about Baba and
had heard of the work done in the Super Speciality Hospital. So, having heard
about Swami, they wanted to come here, study and then go to Australia with His
Inspiration and Divine Blessings.
Sai Ram!
Professor Anil closed his talk by singing the bhajan,
"Jai, Jai Prabhu
Giridhari, Natavara Nandalala."
Om Asato Maa Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya
Mrtyormaa Amrtam Gamaya
Om Loka Samastha Sukhino
Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino
Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino
Bhavantu
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti